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Sunshine Girls upset England Fives

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls have pulled off a giant-killing 27-26 win over the England Fives to open day two of the FAST5 Netball World Series in Auckland.

The Fives came on court and acted out a mock boxing match before the game - which mirrored the nature of a very physical clash.

Even Jamaican goal keep Stacian Facey admitted it wasn't pretty out on court: "It was an ugly win, but I'm just happy it was a win.

"That was an important win for us, and I'm very thankful for it. It was so tough out there, and our strategy was for our shooters to turn and shoot whenever they got the ball. If they missed, it was our job to get it back for them."

The Sunshine Girls shone in the first quarter, with Romelda Aiken sinking the single shots to give Jamaica the clear advantage - until a Jo Harten three-point swish in the final second of the quarter brought England back in touch.

Up 7-6, the Jamaicans kept up their free-flowing game and maintained their lead, 11-9, at halftime.
The English Fives used their powerplay in the third quarter, but their shooters were under pressure from Aiken, who had moved to goal keep.

A six-point supershot from Harten ensured England had a 23-15 lead going into Jamaica's double-scoring period.

Thristina Harwood found her eye when it mattered most, and helped put Jamaica back in front.

But the English were not relenting, and the pressure to get possession stepped up another notch, evident when English centre Serena Guthrie was knocked to the court in a heavy collision.

English captain Jade Clarke was perplexed after the game about what more her side could have done to outwit the Jamaicans.

"It was so hard to get the ball off them, and they put all the pressure on to our shooters," she said.

The English are at the end of a month-long tour of Australia and New Zealand, but Clarke refused to concede to fatigue.
"I think we are all mentally tired, but we have to put that to one side. We're here to play the best netball we can."